Receiver codec super set constellation generator

ABSTRACT

A technique is proposed to accurately estimate the Network CODEC levels for each PCM code a server modem generates. These levels are affected by the digital impairments such as Digital attenuation PAD in the trunk, the Robbed Bit Signaling, the type of CODEC (μ-law or a-law—or non standard), and by analog impairments such as loop distortion, noise, inter-modulation distortion, echo. At client modem equalizer output good estimates for these levels are derived. By detecting RBS pattern of the trunk, and using averages of decode levels of similar RBS slots, more accurate data points are obtained. By further replacing these levels with the closest CODEC receive levels, good accuracy is obtained. Non-monotonic points are detected and eliminated. An upper limit is set for constellation points to avoid saturation of the receiver. IMD correction is applied to the decode levels. Ideal points that are not signaled, are added if possible. When PAD-detection or Codec detection fails, PAD is set to 0 dB and the constellation is based on originally received and averaged data points. Techniques are presented for V.90 type modem constellation generation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/579,529 filed May 26, 2000, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,721,363, which in turn claims priority from Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/140,705 filed Jun. 24, 1999 and Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/140,825 filed on Jun. 26, 1999.

The subject matter of the present invention is related to that in the following co-pending U.S. patent applications:

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/592,539 filed Jun. 12, 2000 entitled “Digital Impairment Learning Sequence”, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,301,296 on Oct. 9, 2001;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/598,934 entitled “Pad Detection”, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,724,814, “PAD and CODEC Detection”, Apr. 20, 2004;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/598,680 filed Jun. 21, 2000 entitled “Inter-Modulation Distortion Detection”;

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/572,860 entitled “Constellation Generation and Re-evaluation” filed May 18, 2000, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,721,357 which is incorporated by reference;

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to an improved technique for generating a super set pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) constellation for a computer modem. In particular, the present invention is directed to accommodating Robbed-Bit Signaling (RBS), programmed attenuation (PAD), and Inter-Modulation Distortion (IMD) during a Digital Impairment Sequence (DIL) conducted with V.90 modems or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The V.90 modem is also known as the 56K modem, which, due to power limitations imposed by the FCC is presently limited to 53 Kbits/second transmission rate. FIG. 4 is a simplified block diagram illustrating how a V.90 modem 530 may be connected to a server 510 through a codec 520. V.90 modem 530 is an analog modem communicating with a telephone company (telco) codec (coder/decoder) 520 through a local dial-up line or local loop 540.

As may be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, such a local loop 540 may contain analog impairments characterized as “loop loss”. V.90 modem 530 may be provided with an equalizer to offset some of this loop loss. Data transmitted from V.90 modem 530 to codec 520 may be in one of a number of formats depending upon the type of codec.

For example, a so-called μ-law codec may receive data in a 13-bit format (as illustrated in FIG. 4). A so-called A-law codec may receive data in a 12-bit format. Other, so-called “non-conforming” codecs may receive data in yet other formats. Regardless of which format the data is received in, codec 520 converts data received-from V.90 modem 530 into digital form (typically 8 bits) for transmission over a telco digital trunk line 550 to server 510.

Digital trunk line 550 may itself contain so-called “digital” impairments, including robbed bit signalling (RBS), digital pad (PAD) and inter-modulation distortion (IMD). Most of these digital impairments are-due to design considerations implemented in the telco digital network when it was largely used as a voice-only network. However, such impairments present problems in transmitting digital data over such a network.

The V.90 standard adds to and inherited advantageous features of pre-V.90 56K modems (e.g., X2 modem and Kflex modem). One important feature of the V.90 modem is performance optimization. Using Digital Impairment Learning sequence (DIL) data, the client modem is capable of generating optimal constellations to achieve best throughput for given conditions.

V.90 constellations rely closely on DIL data points. Thus, accuracy of DIL data is one key for accurate constellation generation. One big problem of the prior art is how to obtain highly accurate and optimal DIL data points. V.90 modem 530 must receive a training signal (the Digital Impairment Learning signal, or DIL) and be able to distinguish analog impairments from digital impairments (“de-noising” data) in order to properly characterize the data channel and generate accurate and optimal data constellations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the present invention, several techniques are proposed to de-noise DIL data and to achieve accurate DIL data, including a linear-to-Ucode conversion algorithm, PAD/RBS pattern detection, DIL de-noising processing, and a ½-RBS de-noising process.

By detecting the non-RBS pattern (e.g., no RBS is present), the DIL data points of the non-RBS slots are averaged to increase accuracy of the received DIL data. Similarly, using averages of DIL data with the same RBS-pattern slots, more accurate DIL data points are obtained. Accurate DIL points provide a key for optimal data throughput performances of the modem.

Received linear DIL data points are equalizer outputs and may be rough and noisy. By the linear-to-Ucode conversion, the DIL rough data may be converted to Ucode indices. The Ucode indicies may be matched to the closest G.711 (μ-law or a-law) values. This process serves to de-noise the DIL data.

The ½-RBS slot refers to D4 channel bank CODECs specified in AT&T Technical Reference, PUB 43801, November 1982, that output close to mid-values of its normal outputs in the RBS slots. In here the codec transfer characteristic changes to span the entire dynamic range using 7 bits during RBS slot. Present invention is matches for the ideal values specified for this type CODEC in the ½-RBS slot. This is noted as ½-RBS de-noising.

The present invention may also detect and eliminate DIL data points which are too noisy and/or non-monotonic. In addition, an upper limit may be set for constellation points to avoid saturation of the receiver, by applying PAD and IMD correction. Ideal DIL data points may be added for typical 0 dB, 3 dB and 6 dB PAD to help create optimal constellation tables and thus optimal modem connections. If PAD-detection has failed, the PAD may be set to 0 dB and the constellation based on originally received DIL data points.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating how a non-RBS slot is detected.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the steps in the DIL de-noising process.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating the steps in the DIL de-noising process for ½-RBS slot.

FIG. 4 is a simplified block diagram illustrating how a V.90 modem may be connected to a server through a codec.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 4, server 510 modem transmits a DIL sequence which is made out of PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) codes (numbers ranging from −128 to 127) as specified in the DIL descriptor. Passing digital trunk with digital impairments 550, the DIL sequence becomes modified by digital impairments such as PAD gain, RBS, Codec type. At the output of Codec 520, the received linear values are further impaired in local loop with analog impairments 540 by analog impairments of noise, non-linearity, echo and loop characteristics.

Thus, the received equalizer outputs of client modem 530 corresponds to Codec receive levels corrupted by the non-cancelable impairments. In the present invention, by using the calculated PAD gain, a linear-to-Ucode conversion algorithm and a hard slice-algorithm, noisy receive levels may be correlated to ideal Codec levels. This technique of correlating noisy received DIL levels to ideal DIL levels is referred to as the de-noising process.

RBS Detection

RBS (robbed-bit signaling) is a signaling method used by digital networks to transmit data between digital equipment on a telephone network. RBS uses the LSB (least-significant bit) of the same slot in each data frame to send data between components of a telephone system. During the digital connection, this RBS bit may be set to 1, 0, or toggled between 1 and 0. Therefore, the digital network may change one of every six symbols to a different value from the one sent originally. In each data frame, the slot used for RBS is called the RBS slot (otherwise, it is the no-RBS slot).

Comparing to the pre-V.90 standard modem (X2 and Kflex), one of the big advantages of V.90 modem is it is capable of achieving optimal performance based on individual loops. The DIL descriptor asks digital modem 510 to send desired Ucode sequence, which, when received by analog modem 530, are used to create the receiver code super constellations. The so-called DIL points are averages of number of linear equalizer outputs corresponding to the same Ucode in the same slot. The accuracy of the received DIL points is one key for V.90 performance. The received linear values may be matched to the closest decoded linear values, using the linear-to-PCM-conversion algorithm. For this reason, it may be necessary to first perform RBS detection.

For example, suppose there are two non-RBS symbol slots. For those slots, the two sets of DIL points may be averaged to get more accurate data. If RBS is not present. (and that fact can be detected) more accurate constellations may thus be created and V.90 performance is improved. In general, if RBS-pattern slots are detected, the means of these DIL points are more accurate to use. This leads to optimal V.90 modem performance.

RBS detection is disclosed in more detail in Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/140,705 filed Jun. 24, 1999 and copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/598,680 entitled “Inter-Modulation Distortion Detection” also claiming priority from Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/140,075.

A similar RBS detection method is described here. In the V.90 modem, a data frame may comprise six slots. Each slot corresponds to one set of DIL points. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating how a non-RBS slot is detected. Twenty of the DIL data points (e.g., from 80 to 99) for each slot may be used for RBS detection as illustrated in step 110. These twenty points are selected as they are considered to be stable and reliable points under most conditions.

The threshold illustrated in FIG. 1 for non-RBS detection may be set to 1. Example 1 discussed below illustrates the procedures for RBS-pattern detection. In practice, only a few DIL data points (numbered from 80 to 99) may be used for RBS-pattern identification as illustrated in step 110 of FIG. 1.

In step 120, the linear to U-code conversion takes place. The linear to U-code conversion algorithm is described below in connection with Example 1. The system PAD gain may be input in step 120 as a variable in the linear to U-code conversion.

Pad gain may be detected by any one of a number of techniques, including the technique disclosed in Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/140,705 filed Jun. 24, 1999 and in co-pending U.S. patent application 09/598,934 entitled “Pad Detection”, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,724,814, “PAD and CODEC Detection”, Apr. 20, 2004, also claiming priority from Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/140,705. Digital PAD is one kind of digital power loss measured in dB.

There are a limited number of known digital PADs, (e.g. 0 dB, 3 dB, 3.5 dB, 6 db and 8 dB). Once the amount of digital PAD is known, several typical constellation points may be pre-calculated independently of RBS. Then digital loop (PAD information) may be determined, using a matching pursuit method. A similar but different approach is disclosed in proposed in Application Ser. No. 09/598,934 entitled “Pad Detection”, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,724,814, “PAD and CODEC Detection”, Apr. 20, 2004.

In step 130, the U-code values for the twenty selected levels of the six slots are stored. In step 140, Ucode values for a given index (n) are subtracted from subtracted from Ucode values for an adjacent index (n+1). The resultant set of values N_rbs is checked against a predetermined threshold value, in this case set to one. In step 160, if number of difference values greater than one (N_rbs) is greater than a decision value (e.g., 8) then a no-RBS decision is made (e.g., this slot has no RBS).

DIL De-noising

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating the steps in the DIL de-noising process. The values transmitted by the digital modem may be selected from 128 points (e.g., the G.711 points). The received linear values may comprise noisy G.711 points as illustrated in step 210 of FIG. 2.

In step 220 DIL points in the slots with the same RBS pattern are averaged. The improved DIL data is then stored in step 230.

The digital PAD attenuation is compensated by scaling down the DIL data by pad gain in step 235. The improved DIL data may then be matched to the closest G.711 points (the decoder linear values), by first using the linear-to-Ucode conversion algorithm (described below) in step 240 to produce Ucode DIL values in step 250. The Ucode DIL values in step 250 are then matched to their closest standard G.711 points. Finally, de-noised DIL data is obtained in step 260 by converting the standard G.711 Ucode values back to linear values, after being scaled up by the pad gain in step 255.

Since the linear to Ucode conversion process converts linear values to their nearest corresponding Ucode value, the Ucode to linear conversion in step 260 does not simply yield back the noisy linear data of steps 210 or 230. When converted back to linear values, the Ucode data of step 250 is converted back to a standard linear value, not a noisy linear value.

By this algorithm, the DIL linear equalizer outputs are converted to PCM Ucode indices. They then may be matched to the closed G.711 (μ or A-law) values. This is a de-noising processing, which increases the accuracy of the DIL data. The mathematical formula for the linear-to-Ucode conversion (for μ-law only) is formulated as follows (It is similar for A-Law).

The following formulas illustrate how linear-to-Ucode conversion algorithm works. A linear positive value x describes the input value. Such linear values represent signal level (voltage) in scaled units from 0 to 32124 (7D7C hex) as determined by ITU standard G.711. The output of the algorithm is described by U-code y. For the μ-law case the conversion is calculated as follows.

First, set x=min(x, 32124). That is to say, let x be the minimum value of either x or 32124. If x is greater than 32124, redefine x to equal 32124. Next, calculate f and the smallest e to satisfy the equation 2^(e)·f=x+132, where to 0≦f<32. Finally, calculate y as y=16·e+└f┘−64, where └f┘ is the integer part of f. The notation └f┘ indicates “floor” or the absolute integer value of f (any decimal portion is truncated).

For the A-law case, a similar algorithm is used. First, set x=x+256 if x is less than 256. Next, we set x=min(x, 32256). That is to say, let x be the minimum value of either x or 32256. If x is greater than 32256, redefine x to equal 32256. Next, calculate f and the smallest e to satisfy the equation 2^(e)·f=x, where to 0≦f<32. Finally, calculate y as y=16·e+└f┘−64, where └f┘ is the integer part of f. The notation └f┘ indicates “floor” or the absolute integer value of f (any decimal portion is truncated).

½-RBS DIL Data De-Noising

½-RBS detection is disclosed in more detail in Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/140,705 file June 24, 1999 and in U.S. Patent Application 09/598,934 entitled “Pad Detection”, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,724,814, “PAD and CODEC Detection”, Apr. 20, 2004, also claiming priority from Provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/140,705.

FIG. 3 illustrates the DIL de-noising process for ½-RBS slot. In step 310, ½-RBS slot DIL data is received as linear values. Using the calculated PAD gain and the linear to Ucode algorithm of the present invention, the ½-RBS DIL linear data is converted to Ucodes U(n) in step 320 and stored in step 330. In step 340 the average of the linear values corresponding to the two G.711 points X(n) and Y(n) closest to the received linear values. This averaged value becomes the ½-RBS slot DIL data in step 350.

Eliminating Points which are Non-monotonic:

Because of the noisy channel, noisy data may be obtained. In a case where a received data point is far away from the idea G.711 points, the received data point may be eliminated. The criterion is comparing the difference of received data and the ideal point against the quarter of the minimal DIL-segment distance.

IMD correction may be first applied if needed to de-noise the decode levels. Next, ideal points corresponding to the holes in the DIL sequence are added in case the channel is very clean and the pad and codec are one of the standard ones (0 dB, 3 dB, 6 dB, A-law) so as to increase the data rate possibilities and V.90, modem throughput.

In case of pad-detection failure, the raw decode levels may be used as those in RBS slots and averaged raw decode levels in non-RBS slots for the receive decode levels and pad gain may be set to 0 dB so as not to violate the regulatory transmit power restriction of the server.

Next, the upper constellation point may be limited, based on IMD and based on the PAD to avoid saturation of the receiver. For example, if digital PAD loss is too high (PAD=8 dB or above), the constellation points may be limited up to index 112.

EXAMPLE 1 Linear to PCM Code Conversion

This example illustrates how DIL data is processed. The purpose here is to increase the accuracy of received DIL data such that the modem performance may be optimized. The data in Example 1 was generated from actual telephone line conditions in Fremont, Calif. line connecting to the U.S. Robotics™ BBS server.

In Example 1 a pad gain of 323 Bh (12859 decimal) was previously determined using the techniques set forth U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/140,705 file Jun. 24, 1999. Pad gain is first converted to a decimal value, where a pad gain of 7FFF (32767 decimal) is equated to a pad value of 1.0. Thus, pad gain in this instance =12859/32767=0.3924.

Table 1 illustrates DIL Linear Values for each of the six slots DIL0 through DIL5, along with numbered index of the level number. Table 2 illustrates the CODEC U-CODE Indices for the same data.

Applying the linear-to-Ucode conversion formulas discussed above, the relationship between Table 2 and Table 3 can be illustrated. For example, in slot DIL0, index 16, a first linear value x of 144 appears. Multiplying the value by our pad gain of 0.3924, we obtain a padded value of 55.7. For a μ-Law conversion, we first, set x=min(x, 32124). In this instance, x is much less than 32124, and thus our x value remains 55.7.

Next, we calculate f and the smallest e to satisfy the equation 2^(e)=x+132, where to 0≦f<32. In this instance, since x=55.7, the equation reduces to: 2^(e) ·f=55.7+132, where to 0≦f<32, or 2^(e) ·f=187.72, where to 0≦f<32, or f=187.72/2^(e), where 0≦f<32, or f=23.46 and e=3.

Finally, we calculate UCODE y as y=16·e+└f┘, where └f┘ is the integer part of f. Plugging in the f and e values calculated above, we yield: y=16·e+└f┘−64, or y=16·3+└23.46┘−64, or y=16·3+23−64=7

The remaining UCODE values in Table 2 are calculated in a similar manner.

TABLE 1 RECEIVED DIL LINEAR VALUES DIL0 DIL1 DIL2 DIL3 DIL4 DIL5 INDEX 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 144 147 143 145 145 142 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 0 0 0 0 0 0 19 205 205 204 207 205 203 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 21 0 0 0 0 0 0 22 0 0 0 0 0 0 23 265 265 265 267 266 264 24 0 0 0 0 0 0 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 26 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 337 337 336 338 334 332 28 0 0 0 0 0 0 29 0 0 0 0 0 0 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 31 417 420 415 421 418 417 32 0 0 0 0 0 0 33 456 458 456 461 457 455 34 0 0 0 0 0 0 35 539 539 534 540 541 537 36 0 0 0 0 0 0 37 578 576 576 578 579 574 38 0 0 0 0 0 0 39 658 661 656 657 660 657 40 0 0 0 0 0 0 41 738 739 734 739 741 739 42 0 0 0 0 0 0 43 779 781 778 784 779 779 44 0 0 0 0 0 0 45 856 861 857 863 859 861 46 0 0 0 0 0 0 47 940 940 938 946 940 940 48 997 940 934 1004 1003 929 49 1088 1085 1085 1084 1087 1081 50 1169 1084 1086 1170 1168 1080 51 1172 1168 1162 1170 1174 1165 52 1253 1166 1167 1250 1247 1164 53 1335 1331 1332 1334 1330 1331 54 1418 1329 1324 1408 1413 1325 55 1411 1410 1408 1414 1410 1405 56 1493 1414 1409 1495 1495 1404 57 1573 1577 1576 1577 1577 1569 58 1656 1571 1572 1655 1651 1571 59 1736 1739 1732 1740 1736 1733 60 1736 1737 1732 1743 1732 1734 61 1819 1819 1812 1815 1816 1814 62 1899 1819 1816 1904 1896 1813 63 1981 1983 1981 1978 1980 1983 64 2138 1985 1981 2144 2134 1980 65 2215 2223 2222 2227 2215 2220 66 2351 2223 2224 2354 2346 2219 67 2524 2512 2505 2512 2518 2513 68 2683 2520 2514 2674 2675 2511 69 2844 2847 2840 2841 2835 2839 70 2839 2843 2847 2850 2836 2838 71 3010 3014 3004 3008 2996 3007 72 3176 3011 3000 3172 3167 3006 73 3334 3338 3333 3336 3329 3329 74 3508 3341 3315 3496 3497 3328 75 3497 3499 3492 3497 3487 3499 76 3658 3498 3492 3650 3654 3487 77 3821 3825 3819 3824 3809 3816 78 3984 3823 3817 3985 3976 3813 79 4141 4152 4136 4151 4139 4141 80 4469 4144 4134 4462 4462 4134 81 4631 4634 4622 4634 4619 4629 82 5046 4638 4623 5045 5037 4612 83 5053 5055 5046 5054 5036 5041 84 5385 5045 5039 5375 5371 5040 85 5701 5705 5700 5704 5687 5695 86 6029 5710 5697 6034 6018 5699 87 6363 6366 6351 6363 6344 6347 88 6369 6363 6350 6355 6351 6348 89 6684 6692 6674 6687 6671 6675 90 7017 6689 6675 7007 6992 6671 91 7341 7349 7326 7342 7323 7328 92 7661 7339 7325 7661 7644 7316 93 7665 7666 7646 7660 7651 7643 94 7991 7675 7654 7988 7964 7650 95 8313 8316 8276 8306 8274 8301 96 8960 8331 8273 8960 8922 8317 97 9606 9602 9582 9607 9563 9603 98 9936 9605 9570 9923 9884 9608 99 10442 10440 10397 10444 10412 10441 100 11108 10456 10393 11086 11048 10437 101 11746 11734 11717 11748 11722 11761 102 12421 11751 11719 12406 12361 11764 103 12386 12389 12368 12396 12370 12421 104 13061 12390 12361 13050 13020 12395 105 13719 13711 13672 13726 13662 13728 106 14367 13713 13678 14348 14315 13733 107 15006 15804 14967 15021 14975 15036 108 15030 15008 14961 15003 14974 15029 109 15667 15655 15615 15647 15616 15687 110 16315 15661 15628 16291 16267 15676 111 16977 16906 16949 17010 16952 16932 112 18264 16880 16999 18360 18228 16952 113 18905 18900 18938 18958 18909 18890 114 20250 18870 18936 20260 20180 18906 115 21260 21164 21232 21292 21210 21187 116 22567 21130 21221 22630 22542 21152 117 23847 23733 23839 23956 23864 23815 118 23893 23807 23854 23905 23823 23809 119 0 0 0 0 0 0 120 0 0 0 0 0 0 121 0 0 0 0 0 0 122 0 0 0 0 0 0 123 0 0 0 0 0 0 124 0 0 0 0 0 0 125 0 0 0 0 0 0 126 0 0 0 0 0 0 127

TABLE 3 RECEIVED DIL U-CODE INDICIES DIL0 DIL1 DIL2 DIL3 DIL4 DIL5 INDEX 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 7 7 7 7 7 7 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 0 0 0 0 0 0 19 10 10 10 10 10 10 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 21 0 0 0 0 0 0 22 0 0 0 0 0 0 23 13 13 13 13 13 13 24 0 0 0 0 0 0 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 26 0 0 0 0 0 0 27 16 16 16 16 16 16 28 0 0 0 0 0 0 29 0 0 0 0 0 0 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 31 18 18 18 18 18 18 32 0 0 0 0 0 0 33 19 19 19 19 19 19 34 0 0 0 0 0 0 35 21 21 21 21 21 21 36 0 0 0 0 0 0 37 22 22 22 22 22 22 38 0 0 0 0 0 0 39 24 24 24 24 24 24 40 0 0 0 0 0 0 41 26 26 26 26 26 26 42 0 0 0 0 0 0 43 27 27 27 27 27 27 44 0 0 0 0 0 0 45 29 29 29 29 29 29 46 0 0 0 0 0 0 47 31 31 31 31 31 31 48 32 31 31 32 32 31 49 33 33 33 33 33 33 50 34 33 33 34 34 33 51 34 34 34 34 34 34 52 35 34 34 35 35 34 53 36 36 36 36 36 36 54 37 36 36 37 37 36 55 37 37 37 37 37 37 56 38 37 37 38 38 37 57 39 39 39 39 39 39 58 40 39 39 40 40 39 59 41 41 41 41 41 41 60 41 41 41 41 41 41 61 42 42 42 42 42 42 62 43 42 42 43 43 42 63 44 44 44 44 44 44 64 46 44 44 46 46 44 65 47 47 47 47 47 47 66 48 47 47 48 48 47 67 49 49 49 49 49 49 68 50 49 49 50 50 49 69 51 51 51 51 51 51 70 51 51 51 51 51 51 71 52 52 52 52 52 52 72 53 52 52 53 53 52 73 54 54 54 54 54 54 74 55 54 54 55 55 54 75 55 55 55 55 55 55 76 56 55 55 56 56 55 77 57 57 57 57 57 57 78 58 57 57 58 58 57 79 59 59 59 59 59 59 80 61 59 59 61 61 59 81 62 62 62 62 62 62 82 64 62 62 64 64 62 83 64 64 64 64 64 64 84 65 64 64 65 65 64 85 66 66 66 66 66 66 86 67 66 66 67 67 66 87 68 68 68 68 68 68 88 68 68 68 68 68 68 89 69 69 69 69 69 69 90 70 69 69 70 70 69 91 71 71 71 71 71 71 92 72 71 71 72 72 71 93 72 72 72 72 72 72 94 73 72 72 73 73 72 95 74 74 74 74 74 74 96 76 74 74 76 76 74 97 78 78 78 78 78 78 98 79 78 78 79 79 78 99 80 80 80 80 80 80 100 81 80 80 81 81 80 101 82 82 82 82 82 82 102 83 82 82 83 83 82 103 83 83 83 83 83 83 104 84 83 83 84 84 83 105 85 85 85 85 85 85 106 86 85 85 86 86 85 107 87 87 87 87 87 87 108 87 87 87 87 87 87 109 88 88 88 88 88 88 110 89 88 88 89 89 88 111 90 90 90 90 90 90 112 92 90 90 92 92 90 113 93 93 93 93 93 93 114 95 93 93 95 95 93 115 96 96 96 96 96 96 116 97 96 96 97 97 96 117 98 98 98 98 98 98 118 98 98 98 98 98 98 119 0 0 0 0 0 0 120 0 0 0 0 0 0 121 0 0 0 0 0 0 122 0 0 0 0 0 0 123 0 0 0 0 0 0 124 0 0 0 0 0 0 125 0 0 0 0 0 0 126 0 0 0 0 0 0 127

Although a number of embodiments of the present invention have been presented by way of example, the present invention should not be construed to be limited thereby. Rather, the present invention should be interpreted to encompass any and all variations, permutations, modifications, adaptations, embodiments and derivations which would occur to one skilled in this art, having been taught the present invention by the instant application. Accordingly, the present invention should be construed as being limited only by the following claims. 

1. A method comprising: receiving the linear output of a network CODEC, the linear output being converted from coded data transmitted by a network server modem, the linear data comprising a plurality of data points in a predetermined number of slots; averaging the linear data value for each digital code for each of the time slots to generate estimated real non-linear constellation points; converting the estimated real non-linear constellation points using a first converting algorithm to map the estimated real non-linear constellation points to network CODEC linear output levels; matching each mapped CODEC linear output level to the closest of a plurality of ideal CODEC output levels for a selected type of network CODEC; and mapping the closest ideal CODEC output levels back to real non-linear constellation points.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the linear output of a network CODEC is received by an analog modem.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein mapping the closest ideal CODEC output levels back to real non-linear constellation points uses an inverse of the first converting algorithm.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the linear output of the network CODEC is converted from PCM (pulse code modulation) data.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-selected frame size comprises one of 6 slots, 12 slots, or 24 slots.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first converting algorithm comprises: detecting digital PAD attenuation; and multiplying each linear data value by an estimated digital PAD attenuation to map the linear data values to CODEC output values.
 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising: detecting inter-modulation distortion, and if inter-modulation distortion is detected, applying an additional level dependent multiplication to the linear data values.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein a failure in PAD detection is treated as a 0 dB PAD and raw averaged data is used as the real non-linear constellation points.
 9. The method of claim 6, wherein if CODEC detection fails, raw averaged data is used as the constellation points.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein matching each mapped CODEC linear output level comprises: detecting the type of the network CODEC; and slicing the converted linear values to ideal CODEC output values.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein averaging the linear data values further comprises: grouping similar robbed bit signaling slots, and averaging constellation points of the similar robbed bit signaling slots to reduce the number of real non-linear constellations.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein averaging the linear data values further comprises: averaging only non-robbed bit signaling slots.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein linear data output of the network CODEC is according to output levels of one of: a G711 A-law CODEC; a 711 β-law CODEC ; or a D4 channel bank CODEC.
 14. The method of claim 1, further comprising: limiting the largest constellation point to a level supported by hardware before saturation.
 15. The method of claim 1, further comprising: calculating and inserting ideal values that correspond to missing codes into the constellations when low level codes are not signaled due to statistical requirements and when line noise is small enough to support the low level codes.
 16. The method of claim 1, further comprising: eliminating constellation points that are non-monotonic. 